When a request is made for a supply of toner, the toner cartridge drive motor rotates in the direction shown in the following figure; its drive is transmitted from the

drive motor to the toner cartridge, thus rotating the toner cartridge.

7.8.4 Toner Supply Control

iR2270 / iR2870 / iR3570 / iR4570 / / iR2270N / / iR2870N / / iR3570N / / iR4570N / iR2230 / / / iR3530 /

Supply of Toner from the Toner Bottle to the Sub Hopper

If the "absence of toner inside the sub hopper" is detected while the main motor is rotating, the bottle motor is rotated intermittently (on for 3 sec, off for 2 sec), and

the length of time during which the absence is detected is checked using a counter that increases its count for each on-off cycle. When the count reaches 20 (about

100 sec), the machine will assume that the sub hopper has become empty, and will indicate the Add Toner message on its control panel. The counter is reset when

the presence of toner inside the sub hopper is detected during any on-off cycle.

If the "absence of toner inside the developing assembly" is detected while the main motor is rotating and the developing clutch is on, the machine rotates the sub

hopper feedscrew motor intermittently (on for 1 sec, off for 1 sec). The rotation is monitored by a counter that increases its count when the developing sensor state

is off during a single on-off cycle; when its reading reaches 20 (about 40 sec), the machine will assume that its developing assembly is more or less empty (i.e.,

there is a possibility of the ongoing generating black prints if printing continues), and will issue a No Toner error, suspending image formation operation. The coun-

ter is reset when the presence of toner is detected inside the developing assembly.

[1]

F-7-17

F-7-18

[2]

[3]

[4]

Chapter 7

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